Do you do work when you fly?
 

It's a little bit more Omni that AC but since we spend so much time on AC I was just currious. I seem to see a lot of people pulling out laptops on my flights.

So, do you do paper work when you fly or does you wait until you get home from school, I mean your trip?

I do work about about 1/2 the time. Now that I have a new notebook which is smaller than my old 15" screen I am not as worried about getting my screen crushed so this might increase to 3/4 of the time.

Conversly, I never do work in the MLL lounges as I see many people posting here that they do.

It depends. Generally speaking, I hate working in a plane. But sometimes, I have no choice, say if I have to go over some materials before landing in preparation for the day, well, you got to be ready even if you don't like it. The reason I dislike it is I generally prefer to relax or rest on a plane, not working so if I do, it's generally not tasks that require a lot of movements such as plain reading. And a plane is so tight that doesn't give you a lot of space to maneuver so I feel constrained in some way.

I always do some work on airplanes. I find flying to be rather boring so, why not work?

In a window seat with headphones on the classical channel, there is effectively very little distraction and a three-hour flight can be very productive, if only for organizational purposes.

Getting the paper pad or the laptop out come with the added benefit of controlling the non-conversations with neighbors. It also discourages people from craning over me to look out the window. (I'm not physically very impressive...)

I chose my laptop carefully, making sure that it was not too small; I figured that I wouldn't really "carry" it all that much: it would basically go from one desk to another desk, so weight was not really a factor. Like Cattle, I was always fearful of neighbors crushing my screen or splilling things over on my side, and I figured that a larger laptop was more secure because of the added height and robustness. The only drawback is that I occasionally end up directly behind the last J-seat, and I can't easily store the laptop during takeoff and landing.

Back in the days, CP had many planes with power sockets in economy class, and I invested in an adapter. I used to choose CP for that reason. Now, I have to use two batteries. I've configured my laptop so that it goes to the hard-drive as little as possible, and I can last between 4-6 hours. This is usually more than enough, unless I transit through some airport where I can't find a power outlet to recharge, or if my connection time is too tight.

I really enjoy working in planes. Most of the time, it beats watching the movie anyways.

If it's ever of use to anyone, I have a
(two-year old) list of every single FIN# in the AC fleet with power sockets in economy class. I don't do as much flying as I used to, and I seem never to fly these planes. Either they are never routed where I live, or AC removed the power outlet at some point.

Yeah, I love doing work on airplanes. Sometimes its the only chance I get to catch-up on emails (often to long-lost friends). I'm usually only get ~3 hours from my battery, so I can work around a YYC-YYZ meal service, but the record number of emails I've gotten through in those 3 hours is about 270. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

Oh yeah, and since I'm a window-person (and I've had a propensity to be stuck next to a couple when a majority of other passengers have empty middle seats), I've learned to get the laptop (not the bag) out before sitting down, so its the only thing under the seat in front of me.

That, and I completed a full mock MCAT on a YYZ-(YWG)-YOW on Zip. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/tongue.gif

Absolutely. From wheels up to wheels down. On every flight other than overnight flights (I sleep on those - wheels up to wheels down.)

I do a lot of long hauls so 'wasting' so many cumulative hours of time by not working would be utterly unthinkable for me. If I were not able to work during flights I would cut back my travel drastically.

Which means laptop powerports are of paramount importance. AC is certainly the wrong carrier for anyone with this requirement. Travelling on a 763 is a powerport lottery. And even if you're scheduled on a 330, it's still a crapshoot on which you're betting they won't do a last minute equipment switch.

For this reason (and several others) I've diverted most of my business to AA.

AA is probably the only North American carrier that has laptop power ports installed in all their fleet. US has them installed in all their Airbus a/c. I believe UA has them installed in selected F cabins. Not sure about the other carriers.

When flying AA, beware of ex-TWA metal (AA flights 2800-3199). None of those a/c have laptop power ports, however they have the comfy style TWA first class seats. These aircraft are no longer limited to/from STL, and they've become increasingly active on DFW-west coast flights due to the elimination of some STL hub flight banks.

I used to work on my laptop quite a bit, but got a scare a few months back on a Domestic flight here in NZ.

About 30 min after take-off, I was working away on my ThinkPad when the woman in front of me threw her seat back all the way in one fell swoop. It missed the top of my screen by about 2 cm (even though I always pulled the laptop as close to me as possible). My wife was next to me and couldn't believe it.

So, I've learned my lesson. I always ask before reclining, but can't say the same for most people on planes these days. Why it isn't part of the pre-flight address I'll never know.

Anway, now I read magazines or student essays or theses.

David

Unfortunately the software I need to use is all web based, so no Internet connection, no work. I could do some work in excel format and upload it later, but watching DVD's is way more fun! When I bought my laptop I really hadn't done any flying with one before, and thought that Sony with the nice big screen is great! Well, I found out the hard way it is only great anywhere but an airplane.

When I was a teaching assistant, I used to mark midterms, assignments, and final exams on the plane. I used to joke with my students by warning them that they better pray that I get good in-flight service -- it'll be reflected in their mark. Sometimes it was easier to award a mark based on that than to throw the papers down the stairs. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

[This message has been edited by YOWkid (edited 05-15-2003).]

Actually, I do no physical work on a plane.

I watch the National/Business Report/Sports, and then stare out the window for the rest of the trip...doesn't matter how long it is.

It's great thinking time. Usually spend about 90% of the remaining time on life, career, my son, my job, etc, and then the other 10% estimating where exactly we are on the map, and trying to pick out cities and points of interest.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thumbsup.gif

Good for you

I might on the way to the meeting but never on the way home. I never carry a laptop anymore - far too much dead weight. I carry a diskette which I can work on at hotels etc if necessary.

[This message has been edited by Cloud Lounger (edited 05-16-2003).]

I usally stare out the window and try to think where we are or write in a pad of paper ideas for trip reports.

Window of your room? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/biggrin.gif

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